Back to the Sequoias

[gf beranek]

Terri and I went back to the Sequoia National Park again and covered more new trail. About 5 miles every day for 6 days. While that doesn't sound like a lot of hiking I swear we put on a couple more miles a day just going off trail to get some of these pictures. Many of the trees you see in these pics are 50 to a hundred yards off the main paths. Some more.

There's near 10 miles of trail in the park that we haven't covered, so another trip is in order to fill in the blanks. Though we will be covering all the trails again in reverse order on future trips, so as to catch the morning light at opposite ends of each trail.

The lightening was certainly not the best this time around. Too much snow and clear skies made for very high contrast conditions in the woods. The cull rate for the number of images taken was higher than I expected. Out of over one-thousand images I managed to glean about 50. I use the in camera HDR function to process a few of these images, but it's just a band-aid at best.

Anyway, these are some of the largest trees we found on the trails this time around. In a few more years I should have all the largest Sequoias in these parks cataloged by trails.

 

[Husabud]

Wow! Thanks Gerry and Terri for all the pics. I cannot wait to get there to see for myself.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I can't believe there are still trees like that out there - AWESOME!!!

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Should be on everyone's bucket list. Some beauties there Gerry and Terry.
Sorry we could not meet up this visit. Hopefully next time you are up here.
Katy went to work sick the last two days. Might have been better you not catch what she got..

 

[Porkbrick]

funny how scrolling down i keep thinking, thats not that big, then Holy-Crap-Thats-Huge when humans enter the pic.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

LOL I know what you mean..... Outstanding in person though....

 

[Mrs.B]

That's exactly why we pose next to the trees.

 

[Porkbrick]

one of these days ill make it up there. definitely on my list.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Not really all that far from you mang...

 

[Mrs.B]

420 miles from Fort Bragg.

 

[pete mctree]

Thanks for putting those up. Great pics

 

[Pelorus]

Awesome photos, Jerry
Hope you have another book in the works.

 

[stig]

420 miles from Fort Bragg.

5362 miles from here which is why I've only been to the Sequoias about 10 times.

I'm saving up for my next trip over

Those pictures really made me want to go climb some more of those big trees.

Are you sticking to the well known groves, or visiting some of the more out of the way, less known ones, too?

 

[pigwot]

Stig,
Let me know dates for your next trip and I will plan to be there.

 

[Husabud]

Me too!

 

[gf beranek]

After we finish hiking the trails in the Giant Forest Terri and I will start hitting the smaller groves. I figure 3 years we should cover most of them. Though there are some that are hike in only that are probably longer round trip than we can do comfortably at our age.

Dang, I should have been more adventurous when I was younger. Figures.

 

[tntree]

Most awesome, thanks Gerry

 

[Porkbrick]

Not really all that far from you mang...

i know. its just a matter of time.

 

[mistahbenn]

Wow incredible trees Jerry. I was thinking the same, thats not too big, then scroll down and see you or Terri. WOW!

 

[treesandsurf]

Awesome, thanks for sharing Jerry. Did you guys camp or stay at a hotel? Looks like it was cold out,

jp

 

[gf beranek]

We stay at the Wuksachi Lodge, Jon. It's too cold to camp out for the times we go there. As I do like to see snow on the trees. Though early April is kind of iffy with that. You can get snowed in or out.

 

[rumination]

Thanks for sharing these great photos Jerry. I have been to Sequoia Natl Park a few times and hope to go back again.

 

[flushcut]

SWEET! I'll get there with the family one day.

 

[Cobleskill]

I went there in March of '74. The road was cleared and the snow melting off the mountains on the way up to the park. At the park you could get to Gen. Sherman and then the rest was snowed in still. It was still worth the drive up. I have to get back someday and see the rest.

 

[pantheraba]

What's cool to me is that you can look at trees like those and size them up as to how you would climb them...like I do with a pine or sweetgum or oak here. But ALL of my trees would fit under the first limbs of your trees. And you have a confident feel for how you would climb your Sequoias because you have been up so many.

What is a daunting adventure to me would be a walk in the park to you...mind boggling to think about how much difference experience makes.

Thanks for showing us these beauties.